During my MFA, I was lucky to be surrounded by a really supportive group of peers. And now I get feedback pretty exclusively from freaks only.

I think humor is like a shield that lets you get as close to the sad sad flame as possible - far closer, oftentimes, than drama.

exercise will never be my lover. Or even my friend. For me, a workout is more like an annoying coworker I have to see a few times a week.

Las Vegas is incredible. Either you love it or you're a classy person with morals. I fall into the former category. It's definitely bled into my writing.

If you're a beautiful Caucasian woman, and you commit a heinous crime, it's like people don't want to acknowledge the reality of your actions.

I'm a big people pleaser; I had a very awkward adolescence. Part of me is still that person who wants everyone to like me.

I've seen men in $5,000 suits urinate in public fountains here. Las Vegas is the best place on earth.

I really want readers to put themselves into the shoes of each character. So the opening lines are an orienting technique: this is where you are, this is who you are. Go.

My writing circle isn't too full of people who fall into the "Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought Tuesdays With Morrie" category.

Luckily I'm on prescription drugs that prevent me from worrying about anything too much.

I don't consider myself attractive. I'm an academic, and in academia, people will write you off if you look younger.

But you can't save people from the world.There's nowhere else to take them

It’ll never be too late to start to make use of the time you still have left

Wow! It's like magic! she exclaimed.Simon shook his head. "It's God's love. That's stronger than any magic." - The Demon Trapper's Daughter

Thinking is not enough. There is no final enough of wisdom, experience - any... thing.

Behold the child, by Nature's kindly law pleased with a rattle, tickled with a straw.

Women have been taught that they are not powerful; they've been given an opposite description, that they are weak. The word "effeminate" implies weakness.

Why are you still here?" she asked. "Shouldn't you be in a cave somewhere inspiring people?

Someone once told me to believe 5 percent of what everybody tells you.

The Republican establishment, the mainstream corporate financial wealth, is getting to a point where it can't control the base it's mobilized.

Sweet are the uses of adversity